Manly Ferry

Totally love this so much! Also, I am going to have to say that this was one of my highlights for my trip. Ok, for the locals this is probably just like catching a cab from one side of the city to the other. But for me, it was an adventure!
We got on the Ferry on a rough day. It had been raining and the wind was strong. So I knew it was going to be choppy on the water. Especially when you hit the mouth area on the way to Manly. It was so much fun when the boat was rocking in the waves. If you like adventure (like me) fight the kids to get a spot at the front of the Ferry outside. I could not get the smile off my face. Too much fun.
This Ferry is also a great way to get a great view of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and Zoo. Be sure to bring your camera to grab some snaps. I forgot mine. Dang! Oh well…
The trip is pretty fast and cheap at around $ 15 return. You can use your opal card credit, which is great. There is plenty of seating available on both levels as well.
I recommend getting on this Ferry if you have not been on one before. Also, Manly is worth visiting to check out Four Pines Brewery. Happy travels!

Awesome and inexpensive way to have a tour of the harbor.
Great views of the Opera House. Manly is a cool beach town area and obviously the center of Sydney is pretty cool. I am sure it is a great functional commute for some but I am jealous of them because it would be an awesome way to commute.

My favorite way to get to Manly! It’s a 30 minute ferry ride. I love sitting on the seats outside and watching the beautiful Sydney harbor go by. In my humble opinion, it’s a tourist attraction in itself and not just the means to get to one of Sydney’s most popular beaches.
You might get wet if you sit outside, but that’s part of the fun!

Comfortable, affordable and beautiful scenery! There is a snack bar, bathrooms, indoor and outdoor seating, and runs about every 30ish minutes

Wow, what a fantastic way to see Sydney harbor, get some fresh air, and see another part of Sydney’s suburbs. I absolutely loved the ride. I went over to Many in the afternoon, drank, ate, then ferried back at night. Recommend you do the same to see the harbor/​city in both daylight and nightlight.

What a great way to see the Sydney Harbor from the sea and enjoy a scenic suburb on the other end of the journey. I would recommend taking this journey as you will get to enjoy some breathtaking scenes along the way.
When I arrived to purchase my ticket for the ferry, I was informed that the ferry had broken down and there would be no service until an hour after I was hoping to travel. Not to worry though as the staff informed me that there was a bus leaving from in front of Circular Quay that would take people to Manly in the ferry’s absence. I wasn’t excited about this at first. It was a bus that took away my views of the water and took a little longer than the ferry trip. But when I realized that they weren’t charging us to get to the destination, I couldn’t complain. I just saved $ 14 per ticket.
On the way back from Manly, the ferry was operational again and chugging along nicely. The views from the boat were stunning but they came at a cost. There were many people pushing and shoving and racing to get to the front outdoor section of the vessel. If you are ok with the crowd, this isn’t a bad thing. I preferred to take a seat by the window and avoid the elbow bumping. I was able to enjoy the WiFi inside as well.
If you want to get to Manly Beach, take this ferry as you will not regret the views of the Sydney Harbor sites. The beach and accompanying town on the other end are great as well.

This is probably the best way to see the Sydney skyline. You get an unobstructed view of the opera house from three different angles. The best part is that you end up at Manly Beach! Even if you don’t plan on going to the beach, it’s worth it just to take the ride. It’s $ 7.60 each way.
I saw another Unilocal review of a nighttime ferry ride, which hadn’t even occurred to me. Not that we had time to do that but next time I’m in Sydney, I will definitely make sure I do that.
Tip — Free WiFi on board!

I didn’t pay too much attention on the fare since I used my Opal card… but honestly A$ 14 RT isn’t really too bad considering how much I pay for my ferry ride to Macau. (It costs more than HK$ 300 RT. -.-|||) Plus, you get great views of Sydney Harbour so no complains from me.
There are a ton of things to do in Manly, you can easily spend a full day. The beaches (Manly and Shelly) are beautiful. There are plenty of fish & chips places… I guess the only down side is that beers cost a fortune in AU.
Plan ahead and take the ferry at the twilight hour. The view is so amazing it’s worth freezing on the deck! (Bring warm clothes and a scarf!)

Our preferred mode of transportation in Sydney.
We’ve been taking it from Manly to the CBD for decades, but never bothered with a Unilocal review. But it’s due. Unbelievable views, reasonable fares, regular schedule, plenty of seating (although the outside front seating is always encumbered by the tourists taking photos and videos).
It’s a dynamic way to relax, with beautiful ever changing views as you travel. If you don’t have a reason to take it, do it anyway. Just do a round trip («return» fare in Aussie). The experience should be a World Heritage Site.

From a tourist’s perspective, a great way to get your photos of the Sydney skyline as you can get a picture of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House, the downtown buildings and the surrounding islands. There’s indoor and outdoor seating on the boat, however my favorite if it’s not too cold is to sit outside with a view. There’s free wi-​fi, drinks and ice cream for purchase and a cell phone charging station (awkward as it’s in a hallway and standing w/​short cords but appreciated!). Taking a day trip to Manly to check out the sandy beach and a meal makes this is great ferry to get on.

Free wifi on the main deck — that’s upstairs — for us non-​boat folk hehee
For just over 15 $ a person, you can go round trip to manly and back to circular quay and the ferries come approx every half hour so it’s incredibly easy to take a trip out and back. Took about 45 min to go each way but it went by pretty fast cause you can just stare out the window and check out the numerous views if the bridge, opera house, small islands or just play on ur phone and draft up some reviews :)
Just make sure you get to the dock in time for the last boat at 540 cause it does get really full and it’d be incredibly unfortunate to get stuck there or have to take a long cab ride back… we def cut it a lil too close for comfort! Hahaaa

Manly Ferry isn’t the only ferry that offers excellent views of Sydney harbour, but it does seem to be the most popular of them, and not to mention the most expensive ($ 14.40 return trip). Plus, Manly is a great little suburb to spend the whole day shopping and at Manly beach.
The ferry ride is approximately 30 minutes one way (or 60 minutes return trip) from/​to Circular Quay. It’s a great way to sit, relax, and take in the view of the harbour while on the water. The chairs inside are comfortable, and the benches outside are rough. However, I recommend sitting outside to get a great view, especially from the stern so the wind won’t be so bothersome. The ferry departs every 30 minutes, but get in line early (~10 minutes early) so you can grab a good viewing seat.

Just 30 minutes from Circular Quay to Manly.
Ferries have free wifi and plenty of seating. I recommend finding a seat outdoors if it’s not raining.

Yes, the views can be good.
I’m a little disappointed about how expensive an adult ticket is ! Pardon me, Im still getting used to how expensive everything here in Sydney.
Also you might not get good views or any view at all, depending on where you sit/​stand ! As it gets crowded, you might not get any view at all if there are people standing outside.

It’s one of the best ways to see the Opera House. Whether you are staying in Manly or just want to visit for the day (pick one, you should do either) you’ll enjoy an easy and fast way into the city and one of the best «close-​up» views of the Opera House that you simply CANNOT get outside of being on a private boat/​yacht.
It’s also a comfortable boat. And don’t worry if you miss one. Another one will be along shortly. You’re on Oz Time, mate :-) Enjoy it.

A round trip from Circular Quay to Manly will cost you about 14 bucks, which is not cheap but you get a beautiful and scenic view, the ferry is always prompt and runs every 30 minutes or so.

One of the Gems of Sydney. Every 30 minutes… and promptly… the Manly Ferry departs from the Wharf at Circular Quay for Manly… the beach resort close to Sydney, $ 14 AUD round trip. Best value and best scenery in town.
Ride itself is 30 minutes. Sit inside for the comfortable seats, or ride outdoors on limited number of bench seats and take in the salt air. Choose into the wind, or the back for less wind.
Take the ferry round trip (1 hour) even if you don’t have time for a day in Manly.
Tip: Allow extra time for ticketing from the ticket machines. Lines form around a few machines, and tourist are unfamiliar how to use. Cash or credit card.
Tip II: Also available, same wharf area, is a private operator of Manly Fast Ferries. Save 13 minutes out of 30 for premium price. But why rush the trip if you are a tourist?

Iconic ferry to Manly leaves every 30 minutes traveling through the Harbor past some of the great «sights» of Sydney.
The boat travels in two directions instead of turning around so take into consideration for where to sit for best views.
We recommend sitting in the back, outside, when it is warm. It limits the wind and you can get good views of the city, bridge, and Opera House all together when heading towards Manly.